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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Book Review: Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey


This is the last paranormal mystery for our Halloween book reviews and the book I listed for the "Fall-Winter Mystery Reading Challenge".  Dead Girls are Easy is the first in the Nicki Styx series.  I began with the first book in the series even though there are four in the series currently.  In this first installment I classify it more paranormal and much less mystery in the usual sense.  This is very close to urban fantasy lite and no real burning mystery with multiple suspects exists. 

Nicki Styx was unaware of a heart valve problem until she has a near death experience due to a heart atack.  Returning to her job and normal life she finds that the owner of the shop across the street from her vintage clothing store has been murder and her boyfriend arrested for the crime.  She sees the dead friend, Caprice, watching the police handle the crime scene.  Nicki is quickly being maliciously haunted and blackmailed by Caprice's spirit.  In trying to stop the malevant ghost Nicki finds herself hip deep in Jamaican Voodoo. 

There are some effectively scary scenes around the voodoo and its lore.  For those who don't like bed scenes with your mysteries, this maybe a little too steamy for you - although no graphic detail, the main action is all off page.  But there are many sexual references and body parts alluded to.  There are also many pop culture references such as music groups (which honestly - some I had never heard of.)  Perhaps the author is targeting a closely post teen audience rather than "mature" adults.   Sub plots consist of Nicki discovering she may possibly have a twin sister (Nicki was adopted), and a few sideline ghosts asking for her assistance, and her openly gay business partner Evan and his developing new relationship.

Nicki Styx is your classic bad girl who has had a wake-up call with her near death experience (NDE).  She is also the kind-hearted-underneath-it-all type inspite of her previous wildness.  Her NDE has definitely changed her more than just seeing spirits now.  As a main character, she grows on you.  Best supporting character goes to her business partner Evan.  Evan could very easily have been the stereotypical gay man cliche, but is better defined and just avoids the cliche status.  Evan is a dear-heart of a best friend for Nicki. 

The strong elements of this book are the romance and the paranormal, the mystery element is not a main story line in truth.  At the end you find out who really did kill Caprice, which was easy enough to figure out in the first few chapters because of Caprice's spirit giving it to the reader early on.  In any case, if you are looking for a good scary book for halloween - but not too scary with a heaping dose of steam, this is probably for you.

Obtained book through: Library


For your convenience, you may purchase a copy here.

Part of the Book Blog Carnival

See you next Monday for the next Musings post.  I wish you many mysterious moments!
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6 comments:

Stormi said...

Sounds like it could be interesting.

A.F. Heart said...

Definitely interesting, has some great atmospheric scary scenes. Give it a try.

A.F. Heart said...

I just wanted to add that this book was named 2008 Best First Book
by Romance Writers of America©, and won the 2008 PRISM Award for Best Paranormal Romance! ~

If you are looking for a bit of romance with a bit of a mystery, this is the book.

AF Heart

Terri Garey said...

What a nice review - thanks so much!

Happy Halloween!!! :-)

Jo said...

I've read this one and the one after it, but not the 3rd or 4th yet. Do you plan to continue with the series? If so, I'd be interested in seeing your thoughts.

Oh, and you have an award: http://ponderingthelibrary.blogspot.com/2009/10/awards.html

A.F. Heart said...

JO,

Thank you so much. Now I am contemplating the 15 blogs to give it so. It takes some time.

Thank you again - my first award!!!

AF Heart

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